High fishermen netted at sea by MMEA

MERSING: Eight crewmen were arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) after testing positive for drugs while at sea.

MMEA Mersing zone director Maritime Comm Suhaizan Saadin said the arrests were made during Ops Jaksa at around 3am Wednesday (Oct 23) to combat illegal maritime activities.

“The eight of them, aged 37 to 55 years old, were on three separate fishing boats in Mersing waters.

“All of them - seven locals and an Indonesian, performed a urine test which showed they were positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine and morphine,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Oct 24).

The suspects were brought to the Mersing maritime zone office for investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act (1952), which is punishable by a fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years.

He urged the public especially the maritime community to report suspicious activities or emergencies by calling 999 or the Johor maritime operations centre at 07- 2199404.